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Candidates focus on growth, education

Candidates focus on growth, education

County mayor candidate Charlie Norman, center, returns to his seat after speaking as other candidate, Scott Cepickey, left, and Mike Bennett await their turn at the podium during debates Monday at Ridley 4-H Center. (Staff photo by Susan W. Thurman)

Candidates focus on growth, education

Candidates for county mayor, from left, Scott Cepickey, Charlie Norman and Mike Bennett check their notes during a debate between them Monday night at the Ridley 4-H Center. (Staff photo by Susan W. Thurman)

Candidates focus on growth, education

A large crowd turned out for the county mayor race debate between candidates Monday night at the Ridley 4-H Center. Mayoral candidates attending the debates are Mike Bennett, Scott Cepickey and Charlie Norman. (Staff photo by Susan W. Thurman)

Republican mayoral candidates agreed Monday promoting growth within Columbia is the key to resolving a variety of economic and social ills they say are keeping Maury County stagnant.

And although they also agree invigorating Maury County will require cooperation and hard work, the candidates offered different recipes for success during a debate that brought an estimated 150 observers to the W.P. Ridley 4-H Center.

Candidates Mike Bennett, Scott Cepicky and Charlie Norman are vying for the Republican party nomination and the chance to face five independent contenders in the general election. The mayoral race is the only contested election on the May 6 primary ballot.

During Monday night’s debate, each candidate gave a five-minute introduction before a panel consisting of Olivia Love of the Maury County Republican Women, William Moon of the Young Republicans and Jim Looney, a Republican State Executive Committeeman from Lawrence County took turns posing questions.

Concerning the county’s growth potential, Bennett noted that most of the economic growth appears to take place north of the Rutherford Creek area and not in Columbia.

“The best think we can do for growth is to improve our school system,” Bennett said in supporting his theory that a good education system and more low-cost housing attracts more residents and thus improves the county’s economy.

He said the best way to improve the education system is to support an independent performance audit to identify the weak areas and then use that information to develop an improvement plan.

“The county mayor is not the school board,” Bennett, a Spring Hill resident, said. “But he or she can work together with the school board to solve these problems.”

“I’m willing to put my shoulder to the wheel and do my fair share,” he added.

Cepicky, also of Spring Hill, said the mayor can play an integral role in bringing the school board and county commission together and working on a long-term plan to improve education within the county.

“We all know we have an issue with our schools. We all know we need to fix it,” he said.

Cepicky said Spring Hill is an example how growth brings in additional revenue to help fund the services — like education — to promote even more growth. He said the physical and economic growth the Spring Hill community is experiencing will spread southward.

“It’s going to take a concerted effort to get people involved … to get all things we need to accomplish, accomplished,” he said. “We need a plan to grow, and it comes down to leadership. A county will rise and fall on it’s leadership.”

Cepicky contends he is not afraid to make difficult decisions and to speak out, even when it is not the popular thing to do.

Norman, of Columbia said it is important the county mayor works with the Maury County Alliance and other groups to develop plans on how to manage growth so that Columbia is not “overrun” like Spring Hill, which is currently grappling with road expansion issues.

“Let’s form a team … and let’s all grow together,” he said.

Norman said he is aware voters are concerned about the county’s school system and that it is important for the mayor to facilitate a better relationship between the school board and the county commission.

“You can’t go to the schools and tell them what to do,” he said. “The mayor can be a major influence ... in forming that relationship and discussing how to approach those issues. We all want to make those decisions based on what is best for Maury County.”

The candidates also contend a better educated population can help reduce other social problems within the community, such as gang violence, illegal drugs and domestic violence.

Bennett said as mayor he would support the sheriff’s department by ensuring that department gets the tools, equipment and training it needs.

Cepicky said community members need to be proactive in fighting these various social issues by mentoring children, and the mayor can help by tearing down the walls that prevent needed changes.

“Law enforcement is one piece of the puzzle, you — the people — are the bulk,” he said.

Norman said the mayor needs to ensure county officials work with the sheriff’s department, not against it.

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